Steering-gear for boats.



PA-TENTBD-JULY-I L, 1903 E. G. AKERS. STBERING GEAR FOR BOATS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 10V. 18, 1902.

4 sums-sum 1.

no MODEL- Inuenton Ear 6 flan;

I 70th Myrna 'IIIIII/[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL m: NORmS Pt-YERS cu, wow-um, wAsnmemu, n. c.

No. 733,393. PATENTED JULY 14, 19 03.

E. c. AKERS. STEERING GEAR FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.'26, 1902.

no 101321.. 4 sums-sum 32,

663 W Earl a dzkem 'W by n Nunms PETERS co, Pumouma, WASHINGTON. D. 1:v

No. 733,893. PATEN'I'ED JULY 1 1903.

' E'. c. AKBRS. STEERING GEAR FOR BOATS; APPLIOATIOK FILED NOV. 26, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 AQMJ Earl 0. mew

EARL O. AKERS, OF

Patented. July 14, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIS .A. PAGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEERING-GEAR FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 733,893, dated July 14, 1903.

Applieationfiled November 26,1902. Serial No. 132,861. (No model.)

To all LU/2107771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL O. AKERS, of Port- Huron, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gear for Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to steering mechanism for navigable vessels, and refers more particularly to an auxiliary steering mechan: ism designed to take the place of the main steering mechanism of a vessel at times when said main steering mechanism is out of use either by reason of its being disabled or for other reasons.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an auxiliary steering mechanism so constructed and arranged as to enable it to be safely and efficiently connected with the rudder when the main steering gear is disabled under all conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam-actuated auxiliary mechanism so constructed that when steam is admitted to the auxiliary steam-service steam is also applied to connect the auxiliary gear with the rudder-post.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the subjoined description and the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, partially broken away, of a boat equipped with my steam auxiliary steering mechanism. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the main and auxiliary steam mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. Sis an enlarged view, partially broken away, of the stern of a boat, showing the auxiliary steering mechanism. Fig. at 'is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a hand-actuated auxiliary mechanism. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 45. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the auxiliary wheel-stand, showing the shaft extending therefrom which actuates the auxiliary steering mechanism. Fig. Sis a detail section taken on line 8 S of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating a part of the means for connecting the auxiliary gear with the rudder-post.

As shown in the drawings, A designates the hull of the boat, and A A the upper and I lower decks thereof, respectively. Said boat is provided with the usual rudder B, the post B of which is rotatively mounted in anysuitable or familiar manner in the hullof the boat.

Said rudder-post is provided with the usual quadrant B of the main steering mechanism, which extends forwardly therefrom and is located near the lower deck, as herein shown. Said quadrant is non-rotatively. affixed to the post B by means of a collar b. Attached to the quadrant Bare the usual tiller-chains or cables which extend forwardly from the quadrant for connection with the steam or hand actuated mechanism for said steeringgear. A second or auxiliary quadrant B is affixed to the rudder-post above the main quadrant B though the relative positions of said quadrants may be changed, if desired. The tiller-chains O are trained about guide pulleys or sheaves c c at the sides of the boat and are carried around a rotating drum 0, which-is operated by an engine 0 located preferably in the engine-room and receiving steam from a steam-pipe G The reversingvalve C of said engine is operatively connocted with a steering-wheel O in the pilot- Y house of the boat as follows: 0 designates a shaft which extends downwardly from the stand of the main steering-wheel and is operatively connected with said steering-wheel. Saidshaft extends below the upper deck, and to the lower end thereof is affixed a beveled pinion c, which meshes with a gear-pinion c on a shaft carrying a drum 0. Trained about said drum is a cable 0 which extends rearwardly toward the engine 0 and is trained oversheaves c and about a drum o the shaft of which is mounted in bearings supported on or near the engine." Affixed to the end of the drum-shaft is a beveled pinion 0 which meshes with a like beveled pinion c affixed to the rotative shaft of the reversing-valve of the engine. In this manner rotation of the steering-wheel in one direction or the other causes a corresponding movement of the reversing-valve of the steering-engine, whereby the drum 0 is rotated in the proper direction to operate the main steering mechanism in the manner desired.

So far as the main steering mechanism described is-conoerned it may be of any preferred construction, and I do notlimit myself to the construction herein shown.

Next describing the auxiliary steering mechanism, it is made as follows: D designates a vertical shaft which is mounted at its lower end in astepped bearingD, secured to the lower deck, and at its upper end in a bearing-block D which movably engages a bearing-bracketA attached to the under side of the deck A, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Said shaft is provided at its upper end with one of the elements of a frictionclutch mechanism, which is adapted to be brought into operative relation to or in contact with the other element of the clutch mechanism carried by the auxiliary quadrant B of the rudder-post B. As herein shown, said upper end of the shaft is provided with a cylindric wide-faced collar D and said collar and the convex-curved face of the quadrant are provided with intertitting V-grooves constituting a V-clutch. The collar D is keyed or otherwise non-rotatively fixed to the shaft D, and therefore rotates therewith. Said grooved collar stands normallyont of contact with the quadrant and is adapted by the following construction and mechanism to be moved laterally into engagement with the curved grooved face of the quadrant. In some instances the clutch may be operated in connection with the main quadrant or a part thereof. Said shaft D is provided with a universal joint D of any preferred or familiar construction, whereby the upper end of the shaft may be swung toward and away from the quadrant and at the same time permitting said shaft and clutch-collar to rotate. The bearing-block D for the upper end of the shaft has sliding engagement with the bearing-bracket A to permit of such lateral movement of the block and upper end of the shaft. Any suitable means may be employed forshifting said shaft and collar toward the quadrant. That shown consists of a sleeve H, which surrounds the shaft below the clutch-collar, and an endwisereciprocatory rod H, loosely attached to said sleeve and having end wise-sliding bearing in a bracket A, depending from the adjacent deck. Said rod is shown as attached to a piston H which reciprocates in a cylinder H attached to a bracket A ,depending from the adjacent deck, and said piston may be actuated by any suitable motive iiuid as steam, air, or the likeas will hereinafter more fully appear. The shaft D is given rotation through the medium of a horizontal bevel gear-Wheel D affixed to the lower part of the said shaft just above the bearing D, and said wheel meshes with a bevel gear-pinion E, which is mounted on the rotative crank-shaft E of an auxiliary steering-engine E located closely adjacent to said auxiliary steering mechanism. The auxiliary engine receives steam through a pipe G, which is connected with the pipe 0 leading from the boiler. Said pipe G is provided with a branch 0 which leads to the cylinder H wherein the steam acts on the piston H and rod 11 to swing or shift the upper end of the shaft D and clutch-collar toward the auxiliary quadrant in the manner before stated. The steam-pipe G, leading to the auxiliary engine, is provided with a valve 9, located, preferably, in the engine-room, whereby steam may be admitted to and shut off from the auxiliary service. A suitable signaling apparatus (not shown) will he employed to apprise the engineer when to admit steam to the auxiliary service. The reversing-valve of the auxiliary steering-engine is operatively connected with a spare or auxiliary steering wheel F, located, as herein shown, on the pilot-house deck above the pi lot-house, whereby when the main steering mechanism is disabled or thrown out of service and the auxiliary steering mechanism thrown into operation said auxiliary mechanism maybe operated by the captain. Said spare or auxiliary steering-wheel F may be located at any suitable position in the forward part of the ship. The mechanisms for operating the reversing-valve of the auxiliary engine from the spare or auxiliary wheel F are made as follows: F designates a rotative shaft, operatively connected at its upper end with the spare or auxiliary steering-wheel F and extends downwardly through the pilothouse and the upper deck. The shaft is provided at its lower end with a gear-pinion f, which meshes with the gear-pinion f on the shaft of a rotative drum F Trained about said drum F is a cable F which extends backwardly to the auxiliary steering-engine and is there trained over sheaves and around a rotating drum F Said drum F is affixed to a horizontal rot-ative shaft Fflmoumed in bearings supported on the engine-frame or otherwise, and to the other end of said shaft is afiixed a beveled gearfiwhich meshes with a beveled gear c,connected with the shaft of the reversing-valve of the auxiliary steering-engine.

The operation of the device thus far described is obvious, but may be briefly stated as follows: Normally the vessel is guided through the medium of the main steering mechanism, comprising the quadrant E the tiller-chains O, and the drum C of the main steering-engine. At this time the valve g, through which steam is admitted to the auxiliary service, is closed and the clutch-collar on-the rotary shaft D is out of contact with the friction-surface of the auxiliary quadrant. In case the main steering mechanism becomes disabled or for other reasons it becomes desirable to disconnect it from the rudder-post the valve 9 is opened and admits steam to the auxiliary engine. At the same time steam is IIO admitted to the cylinder H so as to throw the elements of the clutch into operation, which connects the shaft D with the auxiliary quadrant. Thereafter the steering of the vessel is effected through the spare or auxiliary steering-wheel F, which operates on the reversing-valve of the auxiliary engine in the same manner that the steering-wheel G acts on the reversing-valvemechanism of the main steering-engine. The operative connection between the steering-wheels and the enginevalves may be edected by other means than the cables shown.

In Figs. at to 7, inclusive, I have shown my invention applied to a boat in a manner to be operated by hand-power from a wheel-stand located-n the hurricane-deck or other suitable place. As shown in said figures, I designates a wheel-stand, having the usual steering-wheels I I affixed to a shaft 1 extending through the upper part of the stand. Said shaft 1 is provided with a beveled pinion t',

' which meshes with a horizontal beveled gearwheel 1 attached to -the upper end of a vertical shaft 1 which extends downwardly through the deck A at one side of the shaft D and is seated in a suitable stepped bearing 7; on the lower deck at one side of the beariug D for the shaft D. Said shaft 1 extends through a tubular stanchion 1 which is interposed between the decks A A and serves to brace the structure. Said shaft 1- is provided above its lower bearing with a gearpinion 6*, which meshes with a gear-wheel D on the shaft D, which takes the place of the bevel gear-wheel D (Shown in Fig. 2.) The upper end of the shaft D is thrown toward the auxiliary quadrant B to bring the friction elements of the clutch into engagement by the following mechanism: J designates a rotative screw-threaded shaft which has swiveling connection with the collar H, before mentioned, and which extends at right angles with the shaftD and through a bearing A like the bearing A, above referred to. Said shaft J has screw-threaded engagement with an endwiseimmovable sleeve located in said bearing, and the shaft extends beyond the bearing A and has affixed thereto a worm-wheel J, which is rotatively mounted in a bearing-bracket A depending from the deck A. Said bearing is divided to receive said wheel, and the wheel is provided with bearing-hubs j, which are rotatively mounted in said bearing,one at either side of the central recess thereof. .1 designates a worm-shaft,which is rotatively mounted at its ends in bearing-brackets A A, de-

pending from the upper deck A on each sideof the bearing A Attached to said wormshaft J is a drum J to which is attached an operating-cable J. Said cable extends upwardiy through the stanchion 1 into the wheel-stand and is attached to a drum K, located in the lower part of said stand. Said drum is affixed to a horizontal rotative shaft K, mounted in bearings in said stand and provided outside of the stand with an oper ating-wheel K When said drum K is rotated, therefore, it acts through said cable, the drum J and the worm to rotate the wormwheel and its connected shaft J in a manner to thrust the latter endwise and to move the upper end of the shaft D and the frictioncollar into contact with the friction-surface of the auxiliary quadrant. After such contact has been effected it is maintained by the worm-gear connection described, and the vessel is thereafter steered through the medium of the auxilianysteerin g mechanism by means of the spare wheels I. Preferably a cush-. ioning or yielding connection isprovided between the shifting shaft J and the shaft D,

and such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 9.- As shown in said figure, the collar H,

which surrounds the shaft D, is provided with a lateral hollow elongation it, within which fits and slides a part H, having at its inner end a socket and having swiveling connection at its outer end with the shaft J. A spiral expansively-acting spring H is located within the hollow telescoping partsh and H which acts normally to hold said parts extended, but permits them to yield when the clutch-collar is pressed against the frictionface of the quadrant by the endwise thrust of the shaftJ. Such yielding construction prevents the parts from being pressed together with such force as to place an undue rigid stress thereon. The cushioning or yielding construction described may be employed with the steam-actuated mechanism first described in addition to the cushioning effect of the steam which actuates said parts.

It is obvious that many changes may be made in the structural details illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to such details, except as hereinafter made th subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat, embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a spare steering-wheel, a rotative shaft, means whereby said shaft is rotated through power applied to the spare steering wheel, and clutch elements on said auxiliary quadrant and shaft which are normally out of engagement and means for moving such clutch elements into engagement.

to the spare steering-wheel, a clutch-collar on said shaft which is normally out of engagement with said auxiliary quadrant, and means for moving said collar into engagement with a friction-surface on the auxiliary quadrant.

3. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat, embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steeringear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a spare steering-wheel, a rotative shaft, one end of which is movable toward and away from said quadrant, means whereby said shaft is rotated by power applied to the spare steering-wheel, said movable end of said shaft and the quadrant being formed to provide elements of a friction-clutch and means for moving the shaft toward the quadrant to engage the clutch elements of the shaft and quadrant. 7

4. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a spare steering-wheel, a rotative shaft pro vided with a universal joint whereby one end thereof may be moved toward and from the quadrant, said quadrant and shaft being provided with the elements of a friction-clutch which are adapted to be brought into engagement by movement of the shaft toward the quadrant.

5. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising an auxiliary quadrant fixed to said post, a rotative shaft, one end of which is movable toward and from the quadrant, said auxiliary shaft and the quadrant being provided with the elements of a friction-clutch which are adapted to be brought into engagement by movement of the shaft toward the quadrant.

6. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a rotative shaft provided with a universal joint, whereby one end thereof may be moved toward and from said quadrant, said quadrant and shaft being provided with the elements of a friction-clutch which are adapted to be brought into engagement by movement of said shaft toward the quadrant.

7. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat, embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a rotative shaft, one end of which is movable toward and from the said quadrant, a collar on said shaft, said quadrant being provided on its curved face with V-shaped grooves and the collar being provided with corresponding grooves adapted to be brought into engagement with the grooved surface of the quadrant by movement of the shaft toward the quadrant.

8. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a spare steering-wheel, a rotative shaft, means whereby said shaft is rotated by power applied to said spare steering-wheel, said shaft being movable at one end thereof toward and from said quadrant, and the quadrant and shaft being formed to provide the elements of a friction-clutch, and means for moving the shaft toward and from the quadrant to bring said clutch elements into engagement, embracing an endwise movable rod which is operatively connected at one end with the said shaft and means for giving endwise movement to the said rod.

9. The combination with the main steeringgear of a boat embracing arudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant affixed to the post, a spare steering-wheel, a rotative shaft, means whereby said shaft is rotated by power applied to said spare steering-wheel, said shaft being movable at one end toward and from the quadrant and the quadrant and shaft being formed to provide the elements of a friction-clutch, and yielding means for moving said clutch elements into engagement.

10. The combination with the main steering-gear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a spare steering-wheel, a rotative shaft, means whereby said shaft is rotated by power applied to said spare steering-wheel,said shaft being movable at one end toward and from said quadrant, and the quadrant and shaft being formed to provide the elements of a friction-clutch, means for moving the shaft toward and from the quadrant to bring said clutch elements into engagement, embracing an endwise movable rod which is operatively connected at one end with the said shaft, means for giving endwise movement to said rod, and a cushioning device incorporated in said rod whereby said clutch elements are brought yieldingly into contact with each other.

11. The combination with the main steering-gear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a rotative shaft, a gear-wheel fixed to said rotative shaft, a gear-pinion meshing with said gear-wheel shaft, one end of said shaft being movable toward and from said quadrant, and said shaft and quadrant being constructed to provide the elements of a friction-clutch which are adapted to be moved into engagement by movement of the shaft toward the quadrant, and means for moving the shaft toward the quadrant comprising a collar on said shaft, an endwise reciprocatory rod connected with said collar and a spring interposed between said rod and collar.

12. The combination with a main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, an engine for operating said main steering-gear, and a steering-wheel for controlling said engine, of an auxiliary steering-gear, an engine for operating said auxiliary steering-gear, a spare steering-wheel for controlling the auxiliary engine, and means operated by the engine for connecting the auxiliary steeringgear with the rudder-post.

13. The combination with a main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, an engine for operating said main steeringear, and a steering-wheel for controlling said engine, of an auxiliary steering-gear, an engine for operating said auxiliary steering-gear, a

spare steering-wheel for controlling the auxiliary engine, a steam-pipe connected with said main and auxiliary engines, and provided with a valve for shutting off and admitting steam to said auxiliary engine, said main steering-gear being thrown out of operation when the auxiliary steering gear is brought into operation.

14. The combination with a main steeringgear of a boat embracing a rudder-post, an engine for operating the main steeringear and a steering-wheel for controlling said 'engine, of an auxiliary steering-gear, an engine which is movable toward and away from said quadrant, an auxiliary engine for rotating said shaft, said shaft and quadrant being formed to provide elements of a friction-clutch and means acting to move said clutch elements into engagement when steam is admitted to the auxiliary steeringear engine.

16. The combination with the main steering-gear of a boat, embracing a rudder-post, an engine for operating said main steeringgear,and a steering-wheel for controlling said engine, of an auxiliary steering-gear comprising, in combination with a quadrant fixed to said post, a rotative shaft one end of which is movable toward and from said quadrant, said quadrant and shaft being provided with the elements of a friction-clutch adapted to be moved into engagement by swinging said shaft toward the clutch, an auxiliary engine for rotating said shaft, a steam-pipe for admitting steam to said auxiliary engine, and

means for swinging said shaft toward the quadrant comprising a cylinder connected with said steam-pipe and a piston in sa'idcylinder operatively connected with said rotative shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of November, A. D. 1902.

EARL vO. AKERS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GERTRUDE BRYCE. 

